Betty Lou Lawhead

Betty Lou Lawhead, 92, of Trimble, IL, died at 9:06 a.m. on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, IN. The daughter of Oral Bryan Conrad & Mary Emily (Ferguson) Conrad, she was born September 9,1926 in the house she would live in her entire life, alongside her husband Ralph Eugene Lawhead. They were married April 26, 1951, and they were married for 40 years and 10 months before he preceded her in death on February 18, 1992. She was also preceded in death by her son, Ralph Douglas Lawhead; by her twin grandsons, Alex James Lawhead and Mitchell Keith Lawhead; by her sister, Martha Rea Conrad; and by her step-mother, Bettye Freeman Conrad. She is survived by her daughter & son-in-law, Lugene & Rodney Bond (Trimble, IL); by her daughter-in-law, Marcia Lawhead (Robinson, IL); by her grandchildren, Aaron Joseph & Amy Lawhead (Farmersville, TX), Brady Douglas Lawhead (Chicago, IL), and Isaac Clayton & Jessica Bond (Olathe, KS); and by her great-grandchildren, Benjamin Walker Lawhead and Conrad Joseph Lawhead. Her childhood was often spent out on her family’s small farm alongside their cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and sometimes guineas. Memories of playing in the creek and gathering eggs where the turkeys would hide their nests were among her favorite in this period of her life. As the years progressed, all she had to do was step outside to remember the sights, sounds, and smells of their homestead in the 1930s. From an early age, Betty’s talent and determination shined brightly. She became the first girl in the Eureka 4H to show her Hereford cattle, and would later become a 4H Leader herself. A lifelong resident of Trimble, she attended Trimble School before attending and graduating from Robinson Township High School in 1944. She was always known for her musical talent, and so it was no surprise that she earned a scholarship to the Conservatory of Music at Millikin University, where she studied voice. She furthered her education at Eastern Illinois University, where she continued studying music. She would go on to work for the Secretary of State for 20 years and was the manager of the Drivers Services Facility for 11 years before retiring on September 28, 1991. Never one to let the dust settle, Betty stayed active in a number of local organizations. A lifelong Democrat, she was elected as a LaMotte 2 Democratic Committee Member, served as Crawford County Democratic Chairwoman, and was a member of the Crawford County Democratic Women. She was a founding member of both the Hoosier Hills Rug Hookers and the Crawford County Archeology Society, and also enjoyed investigating genealogy in Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland. A lover of history, she was a member of the Hutsonville Historical Society and participated at countless events at the Hutson Cabins. She was also a member of the S.E. LaMotte Home Extension and the Palestine Red Hat Society for a time. Nationally, she was an associate member of the Sixth Armored Division Association, with whom she served as Past National Secretary of the Women’s Auxiliary. A woman of faith, she was a former member and Sunday school teacher at Trimble Christian Church, a former member of and organist for Oak Grove Church, and was currently a member of the Palestine First Presbyterian Church. In recent years, much of her free time was spent frequenting the Wabash Coffee House and her presence there will be missed by her fellow regulars. Anyone who knew her could attest to the fact that Betty Lou was a woman who strongly stood by her convictions. She lived life her way and was truly a once-in-a-lifetime soul. A time of visitation will be held from 3:00-6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 23rd at the First Presbyterian Church in Palestine, IL. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 24th at the church with Pastor Karen Russell officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery, rural Palestine, IL. Memorials may be made to either the Hutsonville Historical Society or to the Oak Grove Cemetery, with envelopes available at the church. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine is in charge of arrangements.